Nat King Cole – Unforgettable (1952/2024) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Nat King Cole – Unforgettable (1952/2024)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 36:28 minutes | 390 MB | Genre: Vocal Jazz, Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Finest Recordings

Unforgettable is an original jazz compilation by Nat King Cole. It was initially released on a 10-inch LP in 1952, and it was reissued on a 12-inch LP in 1954.

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Nat King Cole – His Most Famous Recordings (2024) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Nat King Cole – His Most Famous Recordings (2024)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:21:12 minutes | 1,41 GB | Genre: Vocal Jazz, Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Finest Recordings

Born on March 17, 1919, Nat King Cole was one of the world’s greatest solo vocalists and a pioneer for racial equality (in the 50s he became the first African-American artist to host a TV series). From “Unforgettable” to “L-O-V-E” and “The Christmas Song,” he left behind a slew of timeless classics. To mark his birthday, we celebrate 20 of the best Nat King Cole songs.

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Nat King Cole – Christmas – Thinking Of You (2024) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Nat King Cole – Christmas – Thinking Of You (2024)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 31:22 minutes | 584 MB | Genre: Jazz, Christmas
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Finest Recordings

Nathaniel Adams Coles (March 17, 1919 – February 15, 1965), known professionally by his stage name Nat King Cole, was an American singer, jazz pianist, and actor. Cole’s career as a jazz and pop vocalist started in the late 1930s and spanned almost three decades where he found success and recorded over 100 songs that became hits on the pop charts.

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Nat King Cole – Where Did Everyone Go? (1963/2010) DSF DSD64

Nat King Cole – Where Did Everyone Go? (1963/2010)
DSD64 (.dsf) 1 bit/2,82 MHz | Time – 44:18 minutes | 1,75 GB | Genre: Jazz
Official Digital Download – Source: AcousticSounds | Booklet, Front Cover | © Capitol Records/Analogue Productions XAPP1859D64

This has been a totally no-expenses-spared project. Using the original 3-track work tapes from Capitol’s vaults, mastering engineers Kevin Gray and Steve Hoffman along with DSD specialist Gus Skinas bring you an entirely incomparable listening experience. In addition to the stereo mixes, this download includes the original mono mix taken from separate microphone feeds, mixing consoles and tape machines at the original sessions. In order to master from the 3-track masters, AcousTech had to be outfitted for 3-channel playback. That meant Kevin Gray had to find a third identical monitoring channel chain (including mixing board, amplifier and speaker) as well as a 3-track playback headstack and also a 3-track preview head for the vinyl cutting system. It was a massive assignment. We’ve spent a fortune to include these extra bells and whistles and to make this a truly historic reissue.

In what some consider his last great album prior to his tragic passing, Nat “King” Cole approached the dramatic dark side of love in the spirit of Sinatra’s saloon songs to timeless, haunting effect with the album Where Did Everyone Go? The distinctive orchestrations of Gordon Jenkins for strings accompany the intimately expressive and supremely musical voice of the incomparable Nat “King” Cole in such classic songs as “Someone To Tell It To,” “I Keep Going Back To Joe’s,” “Spring Is Here,” “The End Of A Love Affair” and other reflections of one who had and now has not. Nat “King” Cole and arranger Gordon Jenkins followed their hit albums Love Is The Thing and The Very Thought Of You with this striking shift toward the dramatic. The result again stands among its era’s finest, most stylistically defining recordings of popular music and still retains its grand sense of tragedy and beauty.

Two bonus tracks recorded for the album, “A Farewell to Arms” and “Happy New Year,” are included for their first release in original production quality. Originally released in 1963.

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Nat King Cole – The Very Thought of You (1958/2010) DSF DSD64

Nat King Cole – The Very Thought of You (1958/2010)
DSF Stereo DSD64/2.82 MHz | Time – 01:52:13 minutes | 4,4 GB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download – Source: AcousticSounds | Booklet, Front Cover |  © Analogue Productions

“…if you haven’t picked up every one of the Blue Note and Nat King Cole reissues from Chad Kassem and company at Acoustic Sounds, you’re really missing out!” – David W. Robinson, Positive Feedback, Issue 52

“…exquisite standards, Gordon Jenkins and his orchestra, and that achingly beautiful Capitol sound…this disc’s multiple layers offer mono, stereo and three-channel.” Sound Quality = 92% out of 100% – Ken Kessler, HiFi News, January 2011

“…Thanks to the gorgeous remastering and improved quality afforded by the format, you’ll hear every breath, as if you were in the studio alongside Cole himself during a recording session.” – The Second Disc, December 2010

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Nat King Cole – The Nat King Cole Story (1961/2013) DSF DSD64

Nat King Cole – The Nat King Cole Story (1961/2013)
DSF Stereo DSD64/2.82 MHz | Time – 01:50:53 minutes | 4,4 GB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download – Source: AcousticSounds | Booklet, Front Cover |  © Analogue Productions

“…if you haven’t picked up every one of the Blue Note and Nat King Cole reissues from Chad Kassem and company at Acoustic Sounds, you’re really missing out!” – David W. Robinson, Positive Feedback, Issue 52

“…mastered from the original three-track work tapes is a sonic spectacular that outdoes the original by a wide margin – as does its packaging. The SACD includes three-channel and two-channel mixes. A major reissue.” Stereophile Records To Die For – Michael Fremer, Stereophile, February 2010

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Nat King Cole – St. Louis Blues (1958/2010) DSF DSD64

Nat King Cole – St. Louis Blues (1958/2010)
DSF Stereo DSD64/2.82MHz | Time – 01:06:44 minutes | 2,64 GB | Genre: Jazz
Official Digital Download – Source: AcousticSounds | Booklet, Front Cover | © Capitol Records/Analogue Productions XAPP993D64

This has been a totally no-expenses-spared project. Using the original 3-track work tapes from Capitol’s vaults, mastering engineers Kevin Gray and Steve Hoffman along with DSD specialist Gus Skinas bring you an entirely incomparable experience. In addition to the stereo mixes, this SACD includes a 3-track transfer for multichannel playback and the original mono mix taken from separate microphone feeds, mixing consoles and tape machines at the original sessions. In order to master from the three-track masters, AcousTech had to be outfitted for 3-channel playback. That meant Kevin Gray had to find a third identical monitoring channel chain (including mixing board, amplifier and speaker) as well as a 3-track playback headstack and also a 3-track preview head for the vinyl cutting system. It was a massive assignment. We’ve spent a fortune to include these extra bells and whistles and to make this a truly historic reissue.

An influential figure in the early 20th century development of blues and popular music as a music scholar and the composer of numerous popular songs, William Christopher Handy has often been called “the Father of the Blues.” When two of the finest and most popular of mid-20th century musical figures, jazz and popular music icon Nat “King” Cole and style setting arranger extraordinare Nelson Riddle, undertook an album dedicated to the music of W.C. Handy, the results were at once a worthy tribute and transformative. Particularly smooth vocals by Nat King Cole were aptly backed by resourceful orchestrations from Nelson Riddle. From the landmark laments of “St. Louis Blues” and the loving appreciation of “Morning Star” on through to the colloquial rag of “Joe Turner’s Blues,” the varied facets of Handy’s songs were given a lastingly freshened interpretation. Along with the contemporary Louis Armstrong Plays W.C. Handy (also available here at Acoustic Sounds), this album is considered by many to be the best anthology of the music of W.C. Handy.

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Nat King Cole – Love Is The Thing (1957/2010) DSF DSD64

Nat King Cole – Love Is The Thing (1957/2010)
DSD64 (.dsf) 1 bit/2,82 MHz | Time – 01:12:45 minutes | 2,87 GB | Genre: Jazz
Official Digital Download – Source: AcousticSounds | Booklet, Front Cover | © Capitol Records/Analogue Productions XAPP824D64

This has been a totally no-expenses-spared project. Using the original 3-track work tapes from Capitol’s vaults, mastering engineers Kevin Gray and Steve Hoffman along with DSD specialist Gus Skinas bring you an entirely incomparable experience. In addition to the stereo mixes, this DSD includes a 3-track transfer for multichannel playback and the original mono mix taken from separate microphone feeds, mixing consoles and tape machines at the original sessions. In order to master from the 3-track masters, AcousTech had to be outfitted for 3-channel playback. That meant Kevin Gray had to find a third identical monitoring channel chain (including mixing board, amplifier and speaker) as well as a 3-track playback headstack and also a 3-track preview head for the vinyl cutting system. It was a massive assignment. We’ve spent a fortune to include these extra bells and whistles and to make this a truly historic reissue.

Love is the theme for 12 ballads of heavenly strings orchestrated by the distinctive Gordon Jenkins, sympathetically backing the intimately expressive and supremely musical voice of the incomparable Nat “King” Cole. Featuring such legendary classics as “Stardust” and “When I Fall In Love,” this album topped the charts upon its release, is among its era’s finest, most stylistically defining recordings of popular music and continues to enchant listeners to this day.

Love Is The Thing was recorded in finely polished monaural and more minimalistic 3-channel stereophonic versions, each with dedicated microphones, console, mix and recorders. Each offers a different sonic perspective. The monaural recording was heard on the original hit records while the stereophonic recording offers the potential for a stunning wide-range realism. Using the original first generation full-track mono and 3-track session tapes from Capitol’s vaults and custom headstacks, console and monitoring chain installed at AcousTech specially for these releases, mastering engineers Kevin Gray and Steve Hoffman along with DSD specialist Gus Skinas bring you an entirely incomparable experience.

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Nat King Cole – Just One of Those Things (1957/2011) DSF DSD64

Nat King Cole – Just One of Those Things (1957/2011)
DSF Stereo DSD64/2.82MHz | Time – 01:16:24 minutes | 3,02 GB | Genre: Jazz
Official Digital Download – Source: AcousticSounds | Booklet, Front Cover | © Capitol Records/Analogue Productions XAPP903D64

This has been a totally no-expenses-spared project. Using the original 3-track work tapes from Capitol’s vaults, mastering engineers Kevin Gray and Steve Hoffman along with DSD specialist Gus Skinas bring you an entirely incomparable experience. In order to master from the 3-track masters, AcousTech had to be outfitted for three-channel playback. That meant Kevin Gray had to find a third identical monitoring channel chain (including mixing board, amplifier and speaker) as well as a 3-track playback headstack and also a 3-track preview head for the vinyl cutting system. It was a massive assignment. We’ve spent a fortune to include these extra bells and whistles and to make this a truly historic reissue.

Contrasting downbeat ballads with an ironic brassy, upbeat big band attitude, the ironic Cole Porter standard Just One Of Those Things sets the tone for a distinctive, pungent experience of love and disillusionment with a swing. Brilliantly backing the intimately expressive and supremely musical voice of the incomparable Nat “King” Cole, a big band with no “strings” smolders, swings, saunters, storms, sighs and sizzles with the arrangements of the distinctive Billy May. Featuring top shelf interpretations of “These Foolish Things,” “Who’s Sorry Now?” “The Party’s Over” and more, this album is among its era’s finest recordings of popular music and its quality, style and spirit remains unexcelled.

Just One Of Those Things was recorded in finely polished monaural and more minimalistic 3-channel stereophonic versions, each with dedicated microphones, console, mix and recorders. Each offers a different sonic perspective. The monaural recording was heard on the original hit records while the stereophonic recording offers the potential for a stunning wide-range realism. The bonus track, an alternative take of “Just For The Fun Of It,” is mono only.

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Nat King Cole – After Midnight (1957/2010) DSF DSD64 + Hi-Res FLAC

Nat King Cole – After Midnight (1957/2010)
DSD64 (.dsf) 1 bit/2,8 MHz | Time – 01:04:45 minutes | 2,55 GB
FLAC (tracks) 24-bit/88,2 kHz | Time –01:04:45 minutes | 1,14 GB
Studio Master, Official Digital Download – Source: AcousticSounds | Artwork: Digital Booklet
Genre: Jazz | © Analogue Productions

This 1957 release from Nat King Cole peaked at number 13 on US album charts and marks the last album Cole recorded with jazz flavour. Despite being billed as a trio recording, Cole is joined on these sessions by musicians including Harry “Sweets” Edison on trumpet and other guests contributing sax, violin, trombone and even bongos.

In this felicitous blending of Nat “King” Cole’s supreme talents as jazz pianist and vocalist with small combos featuring fellow jazz alumni, classic pop and jazz met in a wildly successful brew. A combination of new and familiar songs are featured, including fresh recordings of classic hits like “Route 66”. Musicians include Harry “Sweets” Edison, Juan Tizol, Lee Young, Stuff Smith and Willie Smith augmenting his famous Trio. In addition to the full original album, five additional tracks and two alternates take from the original sessions are included in this release. Mellow, classy, focused and vibrant, After Midnight was a hit and an instant classic upon its release in 1957 and remains a gem to treasure today.

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Nat King Cole – Where Did Everyone Go (1963) [APO Remaster 2010] SACD ISO

Nat King Cole – Where Did Everyone Go (1963) [APO Remaster 2010]
PS3 Rip | SACD ISO | DSD64 2.0 & DST64 3.0 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | Scans included | 3,03 GB

This is the third and final collection to feature the team of Nat King Cole and Gordon Jenkins (arranger). Their earlier collaborations yielded the uniformly superior chart-topper Love Is the Thing (1957) and follow-up The Very Thought of You (1958). As the moniker suggests, there is a perceptible poignancy and longing weaved throughout Jenkins’ arrangements. The opener “Where Did Everyone Go?” possesses a solitude accentuated by responsive instrumentation that supports, yet never intrudes. Cole’s practically conversational delivery of pop standards — such as Irving Berlin’s “Say It Isn’t So” or Johnny Mercer’s “When the World Was Young” — become musical soliloquies with the score as a sonic subtext. His rich and cozy baritone carries the ache of “Am I Blue?” and the slinky “I Keep Goin’ Back to Joe’s” into an understated, almost plaintive blues. Here he perfectly demonstrates a boundless capacity as a melodic interpreter of song. “No, I Don’t Want Her” finds Cole’s voice gilded with an intimacy that virtually takes the listener into the singer’s confidence. As he had done on his previous outings with Cole, Jenkins supplies one selection. Suitably “That’s All There Is, There Isn’t Any More” is the last track on the album and certainly provides a lovely contrast to Judy Garland’s arguably more familiar reading.

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Nat King Cole – The Very Thought Of You (1958/2010) SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Nat King Cole – The Very Thought Of You (1958/2010)
PS3 Rip | ISO | SACD DSD 2.0/3.0 | 55:24 minutes | Scans included | 3.06 GB
or FLAC 24bit/96 kHz | Scans included | 1.18 GB | Capitol Records

Nat King Cole possessed one of the most accessible and appealing voices of any singer in the 1950s. This ballad-oriented set puts the emphasis completely on his voice (there is no piano playing or any hint of his jazz-oriented past) and features Cole accompanied by Gordon Jenkins’ sweet arrangements for a string orchestra. Many other singers might find it difficult to overcome, much less uplift this type of accompaniment, but Cole’s basic and honest delivery works quite well in this setting. Highlights include “The Very Thought of You,” “But Beautiful,” “This Is All I Ask,” “For All We Know,” and “The More I See You.” ~~ AllMusic Review by Scott Yanow

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Nat King Cole – The Nat King Cole Story (1961) [2x SACD – Analogue Productions 2011] MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Nat King Cole – The Nat King Cole Story (1961) [2x SACD – Analogue Productions 2011]
PS3 Rip | 2x SACD ISO | DST64 2.0 & 5.1 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 103:01 minutes | Scans included | 4,44 GB
or FLAC 2.0 Stereo (converted with foobar2000 to tracks) 24bit/88,2 kHz | 110:13 mins | Scans included | 2,15 GB
2x SACD Set, Analogue Productions # CAPP 1613 SA | Features 2.0 Stereo and 5.1 multichannel surround sound

One of Nat King Cole’s crowning achievements, & a fittingly lavish celebration of a cultural & musical icon, The Nat King Cole Story offers a glorious overview of the career of one of the greatest & most beloved performers in popular music history. Containing 38 tracks, many re-recorded in stereo for this anthology, this unmatched set spans the entirety of his distinguished career.

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Nat King Cole – St. Louis Blues (1958) [APO Remaster 2011] SACD ISO

Nat King Cole – St. Louis Blues (1958) [APO Remaster 2011]
PS3 Rip | SACD ISO | DST64 2.0 & 3.0 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 65:41/32:58 mins | Scans included | 2,00 GB

The filmed version of W.C. Handy’s life, St. Louis Blues, is a fictional abomination full of every bad cliché that Hollywood could come up with. Its one saving grace was the dignified performance given by Nat King Cole in the lead role (even if Handy was never a singing pianist). This LP, in addition to featuring Nelson Riddle’s “Overture” from the film, finds Cole singing ten of Handy’s finest compositions (including “Beale Street Blues,” “Careless Love” and the title song) while backed by an orchestra playing Riddle’s arrangements.

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Nat King Cole – Love Is The Thing (1957) [APO Remaster 2010] SACD ISO

Nat King Cole – Love Is The Thing (1957) [APO Remaster 2010]
PS3 Rip | SACD ISO | DST64 2.0 & 3.0 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 72:37/30:25 mins | Scans included | 1,93 GB

Nat King Cole’s collaborations with Gordon Jenkins rank among the finest from either artist or arranger. Cole’s first stereophonic long player, 1957’s Love Is the Thing remains the epitome of the pair’s undeniable compatibility, and it topped the album charts for eight weeks. The opener “When I Fall in Love” is considered by many to be nothing short of definitive; the restrained orchestration perfectly adapts to the singer’s verdant vocals. Similarly, “Stardust” sparkles as a flawless musical alliance is formed with Cole’s warm and inviting narrative weaving over Jenkins’ intimate score. Simply stated, both songs are unmitigated masterworks — and we’re only two cuts into the dozen-song LP. Another key to the project’s success is Jenkins ability to reign in just enough instrumentation to support Cole’s uniformly restrained leads. Examples abound throughout, with “Stay as Sweet as You Are,” “At Last,” and the rural sophistication of “When Sunny Gets Blue.” The heartfelt “Love Letters” and even the comparatively light “Ain’t Misbehavin’” incorporate a sonic synergy as the airy string section glides between Cole’s line by line phrasing. Also worth mentioning is the Jenkins original “I Thought About Marie,” as it sits comfortably beside some of the most time-honored tunes in 20th century popular music.

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